220 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



learn something ; you have learnt nothing. Here is your 

 hundred pounds," I should have looked upon him as a man 

 doing nothing more than his duty. By what legal quibble 

 he ever justified himself, to himself, for keeping my money is 

 a puzzle to me. But I suppose he went by precedent, that 

 being his rule in all possible cases. 



So my Aunt (who, by the way, is the real sufferer in this 

 case, as it was her hundred pounds) comes to me on every 

 occasion when she requires legal advice, taking this as a sort 

 of interest for her money invested. She has lately become 

 less nervous than when we were together at Ramsgate, and 

 her tears no longer flow upon the slightest provocation. She 

 is in appearance less of the Lady Abbess than formerly, and 

 exhibits, except in this particular instance, more self-reliance. 

 From which I gather that something has happened ; but as 

 to what that something is, I am profoundly ignorant. It 

 can't be (at least I should imagine it impossible) that she has 

 been on the verge of bankruptcy, and that this Legacy has 

 saved her. One of these days, perhaps, she will admit me to 

 her confidence. 



She drives down in a Hansom cab (" Four-wheelers and 

 Fevers begin with F," she says — from which it may be 

 inferred that my Aunt has become quite sprightl}') to my 

 retired cottage, about ten miles out of town, and the driver 

 "puts up" during the consultation. 



The consultation lasts for four hours, including the dinner 

 hour, and the result is that " she must consult a solicitor." 



The consultation (with me) consists of her showing me the 

 banker's letters, the Company's replies, her letters, then her 



